Should Hummingbird feeders be high or low
Rest assured a hummingbird feeder can indeed be hung anywhere its accessible to the birds, but so too you.. so you'd need to take this into consideration.
Hummingbirds feeders should be mounted or hung at a mid range height of 4-6 feet. Up to 6 feet is the safest location, but any higher is recommended providing you still have access to the feeder. Lower the hummingbird feeder at 4 feet or below, then it becomes accessible to all and sundry, so hang it up high.
When it comes time to mount or hang your hummingbird feeder, rather than looking for a definitive point where it should go, instead consider the environment where its going to be hung.
Hummingbirds are quite timid around other birds, so location must be away from these.
If you can spare a quite location, then certainly give this a go as hummingbirds are sure to appreciate a spot that is deemed too low or high - which they can at least access without being disturbed around the clock.
In reality, a hummingbird feeder can never be placed too high. Why this is because the feeder is further up and away from people, pets and indeed predators that wish to do harm to the sweet hummingbirds.
With that in mind, a 6 feet height is a must but to go any higher is better still.
Where you can go wrong is hanging, sitting or mounting the hummingbird feeder too low to the ground, where it becomes within reach of pets, nuisance wildlife and even kids.
Below 4 feet must be avoided then but you'd really want to keep the feeder much higher than that.
Up to 4-6 feet off ground
Much the same as you would by hanging a bird feeder for backyard birds other than hummingbirds, the simple answer to your hummingbird hanging needs is 4 to 6 ft.
As the person responsible for hanging the feeder, the lowest you should think about hanging the feeder is 4 feet only.
Highest a hummingbird feeder should be in relation to being accessible to you still, is indeed 6 feet, or thereabouts.
In relation to most adult people, this recommended approximate height only usually comes within chest to top of head height.
While the recommended 6 feet high location must be considered strongly, rest assured a height anywhere above this is still within reason.
Hummingbird feeders can be as high as you need it, especially when keeping pets or predators or nuisance wildlife off your feeders such as bears.
Lowest you can hang the hummingbird feeder is indeed 4 feet maximum, so from here on you can only hang the feeder higher, not any lower.
Bird feeders can be too low as it becomes within reach of other animals or even the natural vegetation in you yard.
Feeder must be accessible
Hummingbird feeders should be hanging about as high as your head, preferably inline with your eyes.
To maintain one or a group of hummingbird feeders constantly need changing out of nectar water to keep it fresh and healthy - and in many respects this becomes more frequent during a heatwave or in below freezing temperatures.
With that in mind, if your hummingbird feeder was to be made accessible to you in the backyard, the changing of sugar water wouldn't be such an inconvenience when its time.
Similarly, hummingbird feeders must be cleaned out up to three times a week, so again the feeder must be accessible as to carry out cleaning and maintenance work when its required.
Even a few short days can attract bumblebees to a hummingbird feeder so its your job to keep bees off the hummingbird feeder by simply cleaning the exterior regularly.
While its not always necessary to clean a hummingbird feeder properly every few days, it certainly won't hurt to wipe it over with a damp, soapy cloth once a day to wash off any sugar or residue present on the outside.
Rather the your hummingbird feeder be too low or high then, it must be within arms reach so its always accessible.
Higher up for protection
If you, or should I say me, would have to pick between hanging or indeed positioning a hummingbird feeder too low on on a tabletop or higher up on a flat surface, I would have to go for the higher up placement.
Sure, a too high up hummingbird feeder can be an inconvenience when it comes to cleaning it up through the summer months, but that is a small price to pay.
Hummingbirds can be quite timid so an isolated feeder location can only go towards benefiting them, with a place to feed in peace and quiet.
Higher up the feeder than as hummingbirds would be less disturbed by people, pets or predators on the ground, as they grow with confidence.
Location would have its say if it feels unsafe to them, for example within a tree. In which case the bracket high up under a porch overhang or on the side of the house would feel more comfortable for all birds, so not just hummingbirds.
Remember, higher up the hummingbird feeder doesn't always equal better protection as cats can certainly climb well.
Hummingbirds are likely to fly away regardless of being disturbed, and with their short migration stay - in reality they're unlikely to be given enough time to grow in confidence if I am honest.
Unlikely to feed too low
As it is Hummingbirds are unlikely to feed off a hummingbird feeder that is made to hang, be mounted on a window or indeed placed on a surface if its an unsafe location.
You would therefore be able to get away by feeding hummingbirds at a lower location with use of any type of hummingbird feeder, providing you can guarantee a safe and quiet location.
Likely scenario to play out for most people is hummingbirds getting disturbed, of all by people... and even by you - and so too the rest of the family.
In relation to people this can go for people passing by the yard or indeed your neighbors behind their fence.
What is the worst thing about setting a hummingbird feeder to low unless you can keep an eye on proceedings, is it would bring hummingbirds too close to predators on the ground.
And when you think about dogs being let out in the yard to pee, hummingbirds simply won't be given the time to feed.
If you feel the hummingbird feeder is sat too low, where it comes in contact with a backyard object, or indeed vegetation, then you know the feeder is too low.
Conclusion
Rather than setting the hummingbird feeder too low or high, think about positioning it about mid range, preferably level with your head.
In which case that only relates to hanging hummingbirds feeders hanging off a bracket, so a window mounted or feeder placed on a table would need to be kept an eye on.
Hanging a hummingbird feeder anywhere between 4 to 6 feet off the ground then is your target.
Higher up the better as the birds can feed in more safety, so while the 6 feet height is recommended - that is only because its within reach of the person that must replenish or clean the feeders two to three times a week.
If you must hang a hummingbird feeder above 6 feet, then go ahead if its still accessible.
To hang a hummingbird feeder too low is more of an issue. Indeed 4 feet is not terribly high but its just about high enough. To be truly on the safe side I wouldn't hang a feeder of any kind below 5 to 6 feet.
What you must strongly consider when hanging a hummingbird feeder on a higher placement, is making sure its always accessible.
Similarly, if its too low its more accessible to you, but so to is the feeder now easy pickings to everything else imaginable.
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